Stamp Mounts For 21x Stamps - What Size Do You Use?

Hi,
I picked up some of the Scott # 212 - 218 series US stamps and have a problem..........
I use Scott mounts, and a 31 mm is too small, while 33 mm is too large, and these nice stamps seem lost in the mount.
As you would guess, a 32 mm does not seem to be available.
What do you suggest???

I don't understand the size options that Scott has. Why not every other mm and then add the most common sizes that are not covered. For instance why the gaps between 33-36, 36-39? Also why not have an app on the Amos website that lets you enter the scott# and it recommend the mount for that issue.

They are pricey, but if you really want 32 mm mounts, you can get those offered by the Washington Press (White Ace) at this link (see Items #MB-25 through #MB-28):

https://www.washpress.com/stampmount.jsp

That would make a great smart phone app - "The Mount Sizer"

Thank you all!

Given the value of those stamps, $7.75 doesn't seem too bad to pay for proper mounts.

Hi

Instead of measuring the stamp height and looking for a mount try measuring the stamp width and look for a mount to fit. There is no law that says the split has to be horizontal, vertical works just as well, especially for smaller stamps.

Jerry B

Hi mobilman44,

I normally use Showgard black mounts, but for the odd sizes that they do not cater for I use the Hawid mounts, bottom seal only and trim the height to suit. If you want to seal the top you can do this with a Hawid glue pen. I cut a horizontal centre opening by inserting a piece of thin plastic as a guard and carefully cutting across the back of the mount with a scalpel. Doing a strip at a time is the easiest option, you then have a stock you can cut to widths as required.

Terry

Hi,
As they say, I think I have the problem licked..... pun intended. That website proved very helpful. Oh, and I have used the mount strips the opposite way in which they were intended - particularly on panels of stamps.
When I got back into the hobby, I was mainly interested in mint stamps and didn't want to use hinges. The cost of US albums with built in mounts was too high for me, so I got the Scott National Albums and bought the Scott mounts. Ha, the monies I've spent on the mounts definitely close the gap between the regular albums and the hingeless ones. But, that's ok.

Hi Terry

When it first came out I bought the "kit" which included a small ruler type tool, a tube of cement and instructions. I never did achieve success using the the tools. I am envious of one who has had success using them.

That is a great idea making your own from a full strip instead of making individual mounts.

Jerry B

Hi Jerry B, (jbcev80),

My kit is a steel rule, a Swann Morton scalpel with a No11 blade, some narrow guard strips of thin plastic of various widths scavenged from product packages, and a Hawid glue pen. A contact glue applied with a small brush in a thin film is just as good, and maybe more controllable. The trick with the glue is to lay on a thin line and let it go tacky dry before bringing the edges together.

Terry

Hi Terry

I will buy a new tube of cement and try again. Being an engineer I cannot believe I am having problems with this.

Jerry B

Hi Jerry B,

A narrow bore poked in the cement tube nozzle, a steady hand, a narrow flat line of cement near the top edge, smooth it out with a matchstick, let it get tacky dry and you're away like the wild Texas wind.

Terry

Hi Terry

After I posted I realized that I forgot to say I was trying to reduce the height of a split-back Showgard mount. I never thought of using open top Hawid mounts (could not see the forest for the trees). I'll get a pack of Hawid mounts and give it a try. I can see where using Hawid mounts to start with would be a whole lot easier.

The "kit" that I purchased did not have a tube of cement. It had a pen, similiar to a felt tip pen, with the cement in the pen.
http://www.ihobb.com/c/HAWID.html

1. How do you determine the height of the mount that you want?
2. I assume you "make" the mount without a stamp in it.
3. Is the "weld" you end up with the same, or almost the same, size of the factory weld at the bottom?

Jerry B

Hi Jerry B,

(1) Using the Hawid mount strip nearest in size to your stamp and with a reasonable margin of excess to cut away, place the stamp in the hawid mount (don't ram it down tight - leave a tiny margin of free play) and measure from the bottom perfs to the bottom edge of the mount strip.
(2)Measure from the top perfs to the bottom edge of the mount strip.
(3)Add both dimensions to get the overall height of the mount strip you need.
(4)Take the stamp out.
(5)Measure off the aggregate dimension both ends of the mount strip, line up the steel rule and slice off the waste with your scalpel.
(6)Glue the top edges together using the hawid pen or tube cement as previously described.
(7)When the new join is set ( best to leave overnight ) insert a narrow, thin plastic guard strip and make a centrally aligned horizontal cut carefully along the rear side length of the strip with scalpel and steel rule. Don't press so hard you cut through the plastic guard insert. Remove the guard strip.

When the stamp is inserted the new top margin of black should be pretty much the same dimension as the bottom margin. You can do this for whatever stamp sizes are not catered for by the mount manufacturers. Stockpile a few strips in the main sizes you will need, then you only need to trim to suit when required.

Have fun
Terry

Hi Terry

Thanks for the directions. As soon as I get a glue pen I am going to try this.

To anyone else reading this thread. Do not try to modify the height of a split-back mount such as Showgard. I have been there and done that. It is darn near impossible. I have come to the realization that it is a lot easier to start with an open mount like Hawid.

The directions that Terry outlined are excellent and well written.

Thanks again

Warning - Dumb question ahead:

If you have a Hawid mount the right size, why don't you just use it? Why bother turning it into a Scott mount?

For that matter, why don't you just use Hawid mounts for everything? I do. I never have the wrong size, as I can always cut down a larger size to make anything needed.
Unless you're shipping your stamps (e.g. exhibiting), there is really no need to have the top sealed. It just increases the chance that there will be damage inserting or removing the stamp from the mount.